I arrive early, anticipating Bernie’s arrival. Just as I’m about to enter the conference room, he steps into the building.
“Hey!” I say, gesturing in his direction. “Silas will be here shortly. Come on in.”
“Nice digs,” he says, looking around and admiring the office.
“Surely you’re being sarcastic,” I say. He nods.
“So …” I pull out two note pads and my full file of paperwork. “While we’re waiting for Silas, how is Paul doing?”
Bernie nods. “As well as can be expected. I went to see him yesterday and he knows something is coming.”
“Good. I think his case is straightforward. First-degree murder and whatever ticky-tack stuff that came from his gambling habit, yes?”
Bernie nodded his agreement as he opened his notebook.
“The evidence – and the fact that he used a government-issued pistol – makes it rather open and shut,” I tell him. “I need to let Silas tell you that, but that’s what he’ll say.”
Just then the door opens and Silas arrives.
“Sorry I’m late, hope you started without me. I’ll catch up.”
I reiterate my statement to Silas. He nods.
“Yes, the trial will take place here because it is the county seat… I’m sure the DA will throw around a change-of-venue request because everyone knows Sheriff Paul so well, but I can’t imagine that Judge Pete will entertain it.”
“Can I let him know next steps?” Bernie asks.
Silas nods. “Sure. And be sure he has representation. We’re going to file charges, so he should be ready to be taken to the state Intake Center where he’ll be for several weeks before a trial date is scheduled.”
Bernie’s face falls. “I just can’t believe this,” he says.
“I know how close you are,” I say. “I’m sorry.”
Bernie shakes his head. “And if, or when, he’s convicted?”
Silas sits back in his chair. “He’ll serve at the maximum security prison in Albany, likely life. Maybe some leniency for confessing and good behavior, etc., but for all intents and purposes …”
His voice trails off. Bernie nods from across the table, then turns to me.
“Now then, Armand?”
“Yes, but wait,” I say. “There’s more. We certainly know that he instructed Paul to kill Carson while on Lindy’s boat the night of the fund-raising gala. But with Paul being cut down before pulling the trigger, the second charge against Paul will be attempted murder.”
Silas stands up and smiles, wryly.
“I feel like I should be drawing a flow-chart of all of this,” he says.
Bernie laughs out loud. “It’s fine, we’re making headway. Go on.”
“What that means for Armand,” Silas says, “is a conspiracy charge, for sure, also to be tried here, to say nothing of the gambling. If we’re ever lucky enough to catch up to Nico, his nephew, we’ll charge him, too, but right now all we have is Armand.”
“OK, OK, OK,” Bernie says. “Enough. I thought we were here to talk about Carson.”
I have to laugh. “Yes, we are. So what can you tell us?”
Gunnar Olafsson